Unit 3: Just War

Question 1

What is the Just War Theory?

Answer 1

The idea of a just war is that when a war is fought it ought to meet certain criteria in order to be justifiable.

Question 2

Who made the JWT?

Answer 2

Thomas Aquinas and Saint Augustine

Question 3

Jus ad bellum

Answer 3

This is the consideration of whether it's right to go to war.

1. War must be started by the proper authority, e.g. the government
2. The reason to go to war must be just, e.g. to protect people
3. Everything must be done to make sure good instead of evil results from the war

RCC added two more criteria to this:
4. The war must be the last resort, every other way of solving the situation must have been tried and failed
5. The force used be no more than is necessary to win and those not posing a threat shouldn't be targeted, e.g. children

Question 4

Jus in bello

Answer 4

This concerns the actions taken within a war.

1. Civilians shouldn't be harmed
2. Appropriate force should only be used
3. Internationally-agreed rules regarding war must be obeyed

Question 5

Jus post bellum

Answer 5

This refers to the actions taken after war.

1. Punish war criminals
2. Help retrain police and military in a defeated country where a bad government has been defeated

Question 6

Why is the JWT important to Christians?

Answer 6

The just war theory provides a way of accepting war when all other options have been exhausted.